New Vintage – A Marriage of Conventional and Unconventional

In the literal etymology of its essence the word ‘vintage’ means the process of creating wine. But over the course of years, the English language has taken this term and changed the very roots of this word. Now, when we hear the term vintage, the first thing we imagine is a countryside home with a shabby chic look – though the physique of this style is abstract, the physical impressions are always leaning towards the quaint side. But the last decade has seem a huge concord of this specific style with the contemporary. The result became a ‘new’ vintage outlook, which merges the old vintage vibe with the contemporary. The overall result administers a smooth dose of modernism with hints of retro tucked in between. Today, we will be dissecting a few choice interiors to advocate for the new vintage phenomenon.

Beiges and Reds

This interior might be more contemporary than vintage, but closer inspection will reveal small touches of vintage tucked in between. Since vintage is an age old craft, it can be difficult to merge with a more modern aesthetic. The clock stuck on the countertop is one vintage artifact, and the style of the chairs depict the old classic aesthetic – with a small dip at the edge and deep brown tones.

This titular interior scheme is the epitome of the new vintage aesthetic; where in the backdrop, the white background provides a sort of blank canvas for the pink and green art, which farther highlights the foreground of a rather stylistic set of furniture. The table set is ideal vintage aesthetic, with a dated vibe as well as off-putting but clearly inherent to the design cushions. The warm, wooden false ceiling is just the cherry on top.

One of the chief characteristics of the vintage style used to be its shabby outlook, which delivered a cozy ambiance. This new vintage formation uses a similar effect to achieve a cozy vibe. With its deep blue traditional style couch and wooden veneering all around, it successfully manages to achieve that particular end.

This interior uses artwork to amalgamate the new vintage look with a distinctly modern vibe. The charcoal drawings of arches and classical orders on the right wall are paramount in achieving that particularly dated look in an otherwise flamboyantly contemporary interior.

Rustic is all the way into the deep end of the vintage waters, but this interior manages to balance out the richness of a true rustic with a new vintage vibe. Though the scheme may be rich, it softens around the edges with stylistic artwork and the use of distressed materials in product design.